10.8 Billion Trips On Public Transportation In The US In 2014! New Record Set

Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News!

Public transportation systems in the US had a banner year in 2014, with more than 10.8 billion trips taken, marking a new record, according to a recent press release from APTA.

A fair number of individual public transportation systems throughout the country saw new records achieved — across a wide variety of different regions, city sizes, and economic circumstances.

Atlanta streetcar

“In 2014, people took a record 10.8 billion trips on public transportation — the highest annual ridership number in 58 years,” stated Phillip Washington, APTA Chair and CEO & General Manager of the Regional Transportation District in Denver. “Some public transit systems experienced all-time record high ridership last year. This record ridership didn’t just happen in large cities. It also happened in small and medium size communities.”

“Expanded and improved public transit services also played a role in attracting more riders. For example, the transit agencies in Albany (NY), Denver (CO), Indianapolis (IN), Riverside (CA), and Salt Lake City (UT) saw increased ridership due to greater service.”

Taking the new data into account — figures show that public transportation system ridership surged by 39% between the years of 1995 and 2014 (nearly double the population growth of 21%). As a comparison, growth in total vehicle miles traveled “only” rose 25%.

Commenting on the upcoming expiration of the current federal surface transportation bill, he stated: “The record ridership in 2014 is a clear message to Congress that the citizens of this country want expanded public transit services. Congress needs to work together now to pass a long-term, well-funded surface transportation bill that invests in our country’s public transit infrastructure. This is critical not only to the millions of Americans who use public transportation, but is also crucial for our country’s economic competitiveness.”


 

Here’s a breakdown of the specifics (coming via APTA):

  • Light rail (modern light rail, streetcars, trolleys, and heritage trolleys) ridership increased 3.6% in 2014 with 16 out of 28 public transit systems reporting increases. Light rail in Minneapolis, MN showed a significant increases of 57.4% due to the opening of the METRO Green Line in Minneapolis. Light rail ridership in Oceanside, CA increased by 36% due to the system being shut down for several months in 2013. Four light rail systems saw double-digit increases in 2014 in the following cities: Houston, TX (17.9%); San Diego, CA (15.3%); Denver, CO (12.0%); and Seattle, WA-Sound Transit (11.7%). Light rail ridership in the following cities also saw increases in 2014: San Francisco, CA (7.2%); Salt Lake City, UT (6.0%); Hampton, VA (5.4%); New Orleans, LA (5.3%); San Jose, CA (4.4%); Newark, NJ (3.4%); Dallas, TX (3.2%); and Charlotte, NC (3.1%).
  • Heavy rail (subways and elevated trains) ridership increased by 3.3% across the country as 8 out of 15 public transit systems reported increases. Heavy rail systems with increases in ridership for 2014 were in the following cities: San Francisco, CA (6.1%); Boston, MA (4.9%); Chicago, IL (4.1%); New York, NY-MTA NYC Transit (4.0%); New York, NY-MTA Staten Island Railway (3.5%); Atlanta, GA (2.3%); and Miami, FL (2.1%).
  • Nationally, commuter rail ridership increased by 2.9% in 2014 as 22 out of 28 public transit systems reported increases. Four commuter rail systems saw double-digit increases in 2014 in the following cities: Salt Lake City, UT (16.2%); Stockton, CA (15.7%); Seattle, WA-Sound Transit (10.4%); and San Carlos, CA (10.1%). Ridership in the following cities also saw increases in 2014: Lewisville, TX (9.3%); Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX (6.9%); Newark, NJ (5.4%); Anchorage, AK (5.4%); Portland, OR (4.7%); Nashville, TN (4.4%); Boston, MA (3.5%); Oceanside, CA (3.5%); Oakland, CA (2.5%); and Baltimore, MD (2.2%).
  • Bus ridership decreased nationally by 1.1%. However, in small and medium size population groups, bus ridership saw percentage increases of 2% and 0.5% respectively. The following cities showed the highest large bus ridership increases in 2014: Baltimore, MD (6.8%); Portland, OR (5.3%); Oakland, CA (4.2%); San Francisco, CA (3.9%); Columbus, OH (3.0%); Atlanta, GA (2.8%); San Diego, CA (2.4%); and Seattle, WA-King County DOT (2.0%).

Those interested in seeing the complete 2014 report can find it here.


Have a tip for CleanTechnica? Want to advertise? Want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here.

Latest CleanTechnica TV Video


Advertisement
 
CleanTechnica uses affiliate links. See our policy here.

James Ayre

James Ayre's background is predominantly in geopolitics and history, but he has an obsessive interest in pretty much everything. After an early life spent in the Imperial Free City of Dortmund, James followed the river Ruhr to Cofbuokheim, where he attended the University of Astnide. And where he also briefly considered entering the coal mining business. He currently writes for a living, on a broad variety of subjects, ranging from science, to politics, to military history, to renewable energy.

James Ayre has 4830 posts and counting. See all posts by James Ayre